A garment

ABSTRACT

A garment for increasing resistance to a wearer&#39;s body, the garment having a first portion with a fabric of a first resistance characteristic operable to stretch to conform with movement of the wearer&#39;s body and at least one second portion of a fabric having a second resistance characteristic, where the second portion conforms to an associated specific body area of the wearer&#39;s body such as a muscle or muscle group. Motion of the wearer&#39;s body causes the at least one second portion to either apply greater or lesser resistance to the associated specific body area of the wearer&#39;s body than the at least first portion applies to the wearer&#39;s body to enable targeting of resistance to specific body areas of muscle.

The present invention relates to a garment for increasing resistance to a wearers muscle and in particular, though not exclusively, to a garment for increasing resistance to specific muscle areas of a wearer.

The benefits of resistance training have long been understood for those looking to keep fit or participate in sport. As sports science has developed in recent decades, a clearer understanding of the role of resistance training on muscle development has occurred. Due to muscle contraction monitoring equipment which exists, it has become understood that the tension which develops in a muscle or muscle group as it contracts and produces movement by moving through its full range of motion is not constant. Due to mechanical and physiological factors, muscles only work at maximum force, or full tension, during a particular part of the motion range specific to the muscle being used and the movement being undertaken.

As a result, muscle strengthening exercises have been developed which go some way towards making a muscle or muscle group work at their maximum tension throughout its full range of contraction. This effect of increasing the duration of maximum muscle tension during exercise is commonly known as overload.

Originally, overload, or resistance training, was implemented in a non-specific way, such as attaching a belt around an athlete's waist to which a weight to be dragged would be attached, thus increasing the general resistance against which the athlete was working. Following on from that, bindings, such as rubber bands, were used to increase direct resistance by being held by the athlete or secured around a limb or limbs. However, whilst such bindings can increase general tension against which a limb has to operate, muscle matched overload is not achieved.

As training methods have developed and advanced, training regimes are observed which require increased mobility of the athlete. For example, in football training, it could be desirable that resistance training is incorporated within the skills training which involves attempting to run whilst controlling the football, then passing the football and sprinting to receive it back. These newly developed skills have dictated the need for more direct acting and user friendly equipment which helps effect the benefits of resistance training and in particular muscle overload, but which can easily be worn whilst carrying out various sports or training.

Various energy expenditure garments exist, which, in some way help provide resistance training benefits to wearers whilst they are moving or exercising. For example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,546 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,947 exercise garments which conform to the body and have inserts of resistive material are provided. In each of these cases, the resistive body suit inserts are applied across the users body to generally increase the resistance experienced by the wearer when they move. However, whilst these garments help increase the resistance experienced by the user generally, in effect, they perform the resistive function of the dragged weight in a more streamlined and user friendly way, they do not ensure that the user experiences overload and thus maximises the effect of their movement in terms of building muscle strength.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a garment for increasing resistance to a wearer's body which obviates or mitigates the drawbacks of the abovementioned prior art.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a garment for increasing resistance to a specific area of a wearer's body.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a garment for increasing resistance to a wearer's body, the garment comprising: a body portion which is operable to conform to at least an area of a wearer's body; the body portion being formed of a first portion of a fabric having a first resistance characteristic operable to stretch to conform with movement of the wearer's body and at least one second portion of a fabric having a second resistance characteristic, the at least one second portion conforming to an associated specific body area of the wearer's body wherein the first portion and the at least one second portion are secured together such that motion of the wearer's body causes the at least one second portion to apply greater resistance to the associated specific body area of the wearer's body than the at least first portion applies to the wearer's body.

The provision of a garment wherein a resistive second portion is secured to a different resistive first portion of fabric so that it corresponds to a specific area of a wearer's body means that portions of the second portion can enable targeting of resistance to specific body areas of muscle. Resistance of the fabric acts upon the body area to correspond with the muscle strength curve such that overload of certain muscles can be achieved during exercise as a result of the effect of the resistive second portion acting upon specific body areas.

Preferably, the specific body area is a specific muscle. The specific body area may be a specific muscle group. By having the resistive second portion correspond directly to a specific muscle or muscle group, the garment may be designed to act corresponding to the specific muscle or muscle groups strength curve and therefore apply overload to targeted muscles thus ensuring the benefits of training are accurate and targeted. The garment may alternatively be designed to act corresponding to a specific muscle or muscle group strength curve and therefore supply support to targeted muscles thus facilitating movement. Support may be supplied to support muscle movement during illness, as a result of old age, during recuperation from injury, or against external resistance such as gravity.

Preferably, the greater resistance applied by the at least one second portion is operable to reduce ease of movement of the specific body area. By reducing ease of movement of the specific body area by applying a second portion, target muscle resistance training can be affected.

Alternatively, the greater resistance applied by at least one second portion is operable to increase ease of movement of a specific body area. By increasing ease of movement of the specific body area by applying a second portion, targeted muscle support can be achieved.

The first portion and at least one second portion may be sewn together. Sewing the first and second portions together enables a complex garment design to be created and fixed together securely.

The first portion may be provided with at least one void into which a second portion insert can be removably attached. The first portion may be provided with a securing mechanism to removably attach a second portion to the first portion. The second portion may be provided with a corresponding securing mechanism to co-operate with the securing mechanism of the first portion. The securing mechanism may be a hook and loop type fastening mechanism or may be a stud, zip, button or similar fastening mechanism. By being able to removably attached the second portion the resistive effect of the garment can be altered on demand.

The first portion and at least one second portion may be woven together to provide an integrated fabric garment. Such an integrated fabric garment could eliminate any areas which could cause chaffing or irritation where the first and second portions meet.

The first portion may be formed of a first fabric and the at least one second portion may be formed of a second fabric. Such an arrangement can enable use of two different fabrics with each having different resistive properties. Thus optimising resistive effect of the garment can be effective to the most subtle of levels.

The first portion may be formed of a fabric having the resistive characteristic of four way stretch. Such a fabric may be Lycra®. In this way, the garment does not require special openings such as zips to allow a user to put the garment on. Preferably the second portion is formed of a fabric having the resistive characteristic of two way stretch. In this way, the ability for the garment to stretch entirely in one direction assists in getting the user in and out of the garment without the need for the garment to be tailored to fit. Thus ‘off the peg’ garments can be produced in standard sizing. Alternatively the second portion is formed of a fabric having the resistive characteristic of being non-stretch. Garments including non-stretch portions are easier to manufacture as the direction of the stretch does not have to be considered in construction.

The first portion may be formed of a fabric cut on one angle and the second portion may be formed of the same fabric cut on a second angle. By using cutting techniques such as weave cutting, bias cutting or the like, different stretch properties may be achieved whist using a single type of fabric for construction of the garment. This has the benefit of the garment being of a single fabric type and thus the durability of the fabric being consistent meaning the garment will wear consistently and be simpler to launder and care for.

The garment may be full body suit, a cropped body suit, a sleeveless body suit, leggings, shorts, a top, a swimsuit or any other suitable exercise garment.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following figure, by way of example only, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a front view of a garment according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a portion of a garment according to a second aspect of the present invention,

FIG. 2B is a portion of a garment according to a third aspect of the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a front view of a garment according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a front view of a garment according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a garment, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, which in this case is a cropped sleeveless body suit, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Suit 10 is suitable to be worn by a user (not shown) when carrying out all types of body movement. The suit 10 is provided as a one piece garment having a front 12 and back (not shown) with portions to be described herein affixed therein. The suit 10 has shoulder straps 14, connecting the front 12 and back, between which is a neck opening 16. On opposing sides of the straps 14 are respective arm openings 18, with side areas 20 which extend from the arm openings 18 to leg end openings 22. There are inside leg areas 24 which extend from the leg end openings 22 to a groin area 26.

A first portion 28 of the suit 10 is formed primarily of a first fabric 30 which in this case is a fabric such as Lycra® or another similar material which has a 4 way stretch characteristic thus enabling the garment to conform to the user without the need for contouring, tailoring or fastenings. Indeed the user should be able to access the suit 10 via the neck opening 16. The first fabric 30 accounts for the fabric which covers a central front area 32 extending from the neck opening 16 to the leg end openings 22.

The first fabric 30 is provided with a plurality of voids 34 a-h into which a plurality of second portions 36 a-h are inserted. The second portions 36 a-h are formed of a second fabric 38, which has a resistive characteristic different from that of the first fabric 30. In this case, the second fabric 38 is a mesh fabric which stretches along the warp but not along the weft of the fabric so that when pressure is applied along the weft of the fabric it exhibits a non-stretch behaviour. The second fabric 38 can be, for example, a nylon mesh and this is used to form inserts 36 a-h. The second fabric 38 of inserts 36 a-h is secured to the edges of the first fabric 30 at the voids 34 a-h in this case by stitching (not shown)

As can be seen, the second fabric inserts 36 a-h are arranged to correspond with major muscle groups around the wearers body. For example, inserts 36 e and 36 f will sit directly over the vastus lateralus muscle; inserts 36 g and 36 h will sit over the adductor longis and gracilis muscles, inserts 36 c and 36 d will sit over the external oblique muscles and inserts 36 a and 36 b will sit over the upper trapezius muscle.

In use, when a user wearing garment 10 lifts their leg, the vastus lateralus, adductor longis and gracilis muscles will enlarge as these muscles tense and work to lift the limb. The inserts 36 a-h are be orientated such that the non-stretch characteristic is arranged to correspond with the muscle strength curve. Therefore, in addition, the resistance created by the non-stretching of inserts 36 e, 36 f, 36 c and 36 d will act on these muscles causing them to further enlarge thus creating more tension and increasing the effect of the movement on the muscles and causing them to reach overload more quickly and for a longer period during the motion. This can result in inborn, natural, unconditioned muscular responses to be trained and modified due to the plasticity of the nervous system which permits a refinement of nervous input to be gained and which may create the circumstances where they can be triggered in new combinations and sequences using layers or restrictive garments 10.

Furthermore, when the user moves in a manner which is unexpected or different from the predicted direction of use for the muscle mass against which the restrictive inserts 36 are placed, the inserts will ensure that the muscle is still more demanding of muscular tension.

For specific sports or exercises, muscle development of particular types is required in order to create the best display of motor patterns for the activity. By using resistive inserts 36 to place opposing resistive forces on the muscles which are to be developed, the body works to optimise the benefit from specific exercises and thus develop a skill in movement as well as an increase in cardiovascular fitness.

Benefit will also be found for sports people to help develop fundamental skill patterns or a series of movements which are of particular resistive benefit, thus cause specific muscle group enhancement so that particular motions are more easily controlled or carried out. Repetition of training, technique and general movement are essential in improving skills and fitness levels for sport. In addition, the human body is a self-optimizing machine as it will gradually adapt to a given movement or workload challenge by improving efficiency with which movement is performed. Thus, worn over a period of time, and with practice, the garment 10 can help create a marked improvement in muscle balance and strength. Thus, in order to further enhance the benefit of the self-optimizing performance, the second inserts 36 may be made as panels which are removably secured to the first portion 28 using a securing means such as a hook and loop fastening (not shown) so that second inserts 36 may be removed once the wearer has become used to their resistive effect and replaced with new second inserts 36 formed of a new fabric (not shown) having a much greater resistive character than that of the original second fabric 38.

In FIG. 2A there is shown a further embodiment of a detail of a garment 100 wherein, using a single fabric, in this case a traditionally non-stretch fabric 120, is used to achieve different resistive qualities within a garment by using tailoring techniques which, by cut at different angles, or bias', can enable the non-stretch fabric to have a stretch property as it is acted upon in different directions. For example, segment 122 of fabric 120 is cut along the warp 123 and the weft 124 whereas segment 125 is cut on the bias and the segments are then stitched together along seam 126. In this case, when a lateral force A is applied to segment 122, the segment 122 exhibits no stretch properties. By contrast, when the lateral force B is applied to segment 125, the segment 125 will stretch, from the seam 126 where it is anchored to segment 122 and elongate in the direction of force B. Using such cutting techniques, the garment 100 can be created to apply specific resistive qualities to any desired muscle or muscle group whilst only being created from a single fabric.

In FIG. 2B there is shown a further embodiment of a detail of a garment 100 wherein, using a single fabric, in this case a fabric 160 having a two way stretch characteristic is used to achieve different resistive qualities within a garment as, by orientating the fabric in different directions, different resistive forces are applied by co-joined fabric portions. For example, segment 162 of fabric 160 is arranged such that the two way stretch characteristic of the fabric acts in the x-axis whereas segment 164 is arranged such that the two way stretch characteristic acts in the y-axis. The segments 162, 164 are then stitched together along seam 166. In this case, when a lateral force A is applied to stitched segments 162, 164, then segment 164 exhibits no stretch properties but segment 162 will stretch from the seam 166 where it is anchored to segment 164. By contrast, when the lateral force B is applied to the stitched segments 162, 164, the segment 164 will stretch and elongate in the direction of force B. By arranging segments of the fabric 160 in such a way, a garment can be created to apply specific resistive qualities to any desired muscle or muscle group whilst only being created from a single fabric.

In FIG. 3 there is shown a further embodiment of a garment, generally indicated by reference numeral 200, which in this case is a vest. The first portion 228 is made of first fabric having a four way stretch and second portions 236 a, b and c are made of a second resistive fabric which only has a two way stretch. Portions 236 a and c correspond to the external oblique muscles and portion 236 b corresponds to the rectus abdominus muscles and the two way stretch fabric is arranged to apply a resistive load to the muscle groups when they are being used. In addition, a heart rate monitor 250 is also incorporated within the garment 200. It will be appreciated that additional sensors and electrical detectors may be incorporated within the constructed garment 200, including but not limited to miniature load sensor monitors of power meters, these may individually measure muscle performance and other criteria such as limb speed, muscle power, muscle flexibility, endurance and muscle balance.

In use, as well as the resistive portions 236 a, b and c acting upon the associated muscles to enhance the effect of motion in training them under resistance, the heart rate monitor can also act to indicate overall fitness.

In FIG. 4, there is shown the front of a garment, generally indicated by reference numeral 300, which in this case is a pair of shorts. In this embodiment the first portions 328 are made of first stretch fabric which is in this case a fabric, such as Lycra®, which has a four way stretch characteristic. Second portions 336 are made of a second resistive fabric which is a mesh type material having a two way stretch characteristic which is, in this case orientated such that the fabric stretches along the y-axis and displays no stretch characteristic, and so remains taut, along the x-axis. Third portions, 338 are made of the second resistive fabric which is orientated such that the fabric stretches along the x-axis and displays no stretch characteristic, so remains taut, along the y-axis.

In another embodiment of the invention the garment can be utilised to support muscle movement. The garment, formed having a panelled arrangement as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 or another suitable panelled arrangement for a specific use, will be constructed of a first fabric with stretch characteristics and a second fabric having a restrictive characteristic. The first fabric and second fabric are stitched together such that the second fabric inserts are, in this embodiment, arranged to correspond to muscles which are to be supported in their motion.

As an example, during many typical movements of limbs, the major muscles used operate as antagonistic pairs of muscles which create movement when one, the prime mover, contracts and the other, the antagonist, relaxes. In the upper legs, the quadriceps and hamstrings form an antagonistic muscle pair. When a person walks, runs, or climbs, the motion of lifting the knee sees the hamstring, which in this example is the prime move, contract and the quadrilaterals, the antagonists, relax. When increased resistance against the muscles is desired to build strengths, the second fabric panels should be arranged to correspond to the muscles which are tensing to move thus adding load tot hem and causing them to work harder for longer during the motion. However, it will be appreciated that in cases of illness, recovery from injury or generate age related muscle degeneration, the second fabric panels can alternatively be arranged to correspond with the antagonist muscles. By corresponding to the antagonist muscles, the second fabric panels help support the limb during the motion being undertaken by applying more resistance to the associated specific body area requiring support. Put in the context of an elderly person climbing the stairs, the second fabric works to help support the muscle as the muscle works to raise the hips and knees. Such additional support can aid the climbing process. It will be appreciated that such an arrangement, the garment can help the wearer walk faster or run more easily.

It will be appreciated that for the embodiments above, each garment or body suit can be worn under normal day clothing or sports clothing. The garments can be used for fitness and training purposes or just for general health use. In particular the garments are suited for use by sportsmen or women whilst playing their sport in order to enhance the energy expended during their exercise session. However, this benefit will also by found by those wearing them simply to go a walk or a run on their bike. In addition, upper body garments can be useful for those playing sports such as golf, or tennis. Also, specifically panelled garments can be created for those participating in general fitness classes or activities such as yoga or Pilates.

Alongside the physical benefit of the garment for a user, a mental advantage can also be gained as a result of the biochemical and physiological processes occurring.

To enhance the performance of any of the above garments, the garments may be worn in a layered manner in order to develop resistive patterns to conform with a complex pattern or muscles or muscle groups thus enhancing the overall effect and benefits to the user.

Although described with reference to use by sportsmen, it will also be clearly understood that for medical, clinical and rehabilitative uses, the garments may be of significant value. Gentle resistive exercise can improve and increase mobility as part of recovery programs implemented after illness, operations or accidents. In addition, some clinical conditions wherein the muscle tone is impinged upon can be improved by the resistive effect of the garments on desired muscles or muscle groups. For example, at the beginning of rehabilitation, particularly after an extended period of non-activity, a physiotherapist can use the garment on a patient to reintroduce different manoeuvres. This requires introducing low levels of controlled training, slowly increasing the work load of the person throughout the course of their rehabilitation period until full intensity training can be achieved. In addition, for those requiring support in recuperation, using the resistive fabric to provide support to muscle groups can further enhance mobility.

Relative progressive training also trains the energy systems of the body making them ore efficient. By having a person who is undergoing rehabilitation train wearing a garment 10, 200, 300 re-establishment of motor unit recruitment patterns can occur and can restore the bio-chemical fitness of any injured person.

It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the invention herein described without departing from the scope thereof. For example, although in FIG. 1 the first fabric panel is detailed as having the second stitched into voids, they could alternatively have been stitched onto the top of the first fabric as they would then restrict the ability of the first fabric to stretch. Alternatively they could be secured to the first fabric by glue, hook and loop fastening, stud or button fastenings. Furthermore, although only a four way stretch fabric and a two way stretch fabric are detailed in the above description, it will be appreciated that any number of fabrics with different resistive qualities may be used and that these may be used in specific zones or patterns in order to create a tiered resistive effect in specific different muscle areas. Indeed, inserts of a material exhibiting no stretch characteristics could be used. In addition, the fabric or fabrics used may be chosen for additional properties which complement their resistive properties, for example, they may be chosen to keep the muscle group warm or cool depending on how they perform. The garment of FIG. 1 is shown as a cropped sleeveless suit, however it may be shorts, a swimsuit, a long or short-sleeved top, leggings, a full body suit, or simply legwarmers for use on the lower leg. It will be appreciated that in effect any suitable garment for any part of the body can be created. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that any number of resistive inserts may be incorporated within the garment and these may be of any size or shape to correspond with a muscle or muscle group to which the panel is to correspond. In addition, differing resistive fabrics may be used for different users, for example, a rugby player may wish to work against a higher level of resistance than someone who is merely walking their dog. Lycra has been detailed as being a stretch fabric, and woven nylon has been detailed as being a non stretch fabric, but it will be appreciated that any suitable fabric exhibiting the stretch and thus resistive characteristics may be used. For example, woven nylon may have a highly non-stretch behaviour however knitted nylon may have some stretch. In addition, silk satin cut on the weave may be non-stretch but if cut on the bias a high degree of stretch can be obtained. Fabrics having breathable properties may also be used. 

1. A garment for increasing resistance to a wearer's body, the garment comprising: a body portion which is operable to conform to at least an area of a wearer's body; the body portion being formed of a first portion of a fabric having a first resistance characteristic operable to stretch to conform with movement of the wearer's body and at least one second portion of a fabric having a second resistance characteristic, the at least one second portion conforming to an associated specific body area of the wearer's body wherein the first portion and the at least one second portion are secured together such that motion of the wearer's body causes the at least one second portion to apply greater resistance to the associated specific body area of the wearer's body than the at least first portion applies to the wearer's body.
 2. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the specific body area is a specific muscle.
 3. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the specific body area is a specific muscle group.
 4. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the greater resistance applied by the at least one second portion is operable to reduce ease of movement of the specific body area.
 5. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the greater resistance applied by the at least one second portion is operable to facilitate movement of the specific body area.
 6. The garment according to claim 1 wherein the first portion and at least one second portion may be sewn together.
 7. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is provided with at least one void into which a second portion insert is removably attached.
 8. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is provided with a securing mechanism to removably attach a second portion to the first portion.
 9. The garment according to claim 7, wherein the second portion is provided with a corresponding securing mechanism to co-operate with the securing mechanism of the first portion.
 10. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the first portion and at least one second portion are woven together to provide an integrated fabric garment.
 11. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is formed of a first fabric and the at least one second portion is formed of a second fabric.
 12. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is formed of a fabric having the resistive characteristic of four way stretch.
 13. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the second portion is formed of a fabric having the resistive characteristic of two way stretch.
 14. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the second portion is formed of a fabric having the resistive characteristic of being non-stretch.
 15. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the first portion is formed of a fabric cut on one angle and the second portion is formed of the same fabric cut on a second angle.
 16. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the garment is selected from a group comprising: a full body suit, a cropped body suit, a sleeveless body suit, leggings, shorts, a top, or a swimsuit. 